AF-wide competitive pistol, rifle matches planned

Staff Sgt. Matthew Lockard, left, and Staff Sgt. Bryan Clark, right, take instruction from Senior Airman Bryan Effingham Feb. 3 as members of the 178th Security Forces Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, based in Springfield, sharpen their combat shooting skills at the Combat Arms facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The facility will host an Excellence in Competition for pistol and rifle categories in April. (Skywrighter photo/Amy Rollins)

Members of the 178th Security Forces Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, based in Springfield, sharpen their combat shooting skills, including 360-degree awareness, in full combat gear Feb. 3 at the Combat Arms facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The facility will host an Excellence in Competition for pistol and rifle categories in April. (Skywrighter photo/Amy Rollins)

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The 88th Security Forces Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is hosting an Excellence in Competition match for pistol and rifle categories. This is a great opportunity to hone skills while adding the fun of competition. Registration begins in March.

EICs are Air Force wide competitions, and are open to all active duty, Guard, Reserve, retiree and civil service employees regardless of their duty location. Contractors are not eligible. Space is limited to 168 participants.

The pistol competition will take place April 3-6 and the rifle match will be held April 10-13 in the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance facility, Bldg. 296, 3950 Newark St., Area A, next door to the main SFS building. An awards presentation will be held April 14. Participants may sign up for either one or both competitions.

Staff Sgt. Cameron Mansfield, one of the competition’s organizers and a combat arms instructor, said one of the benefits of the EIC is fostering positive community relationships and showing off the capabilities of the 88th SFS and Combat Arms facility.

Members of the 178th Security Forces Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, based in Springfield were sharpening their own combat shooting skills, including 360-degree awareness, in full combat gear Feb. 3 at the Combat Arms facility.

Master Sgt. Carl Kanzari, Combat Arms instructor, 178th SFS, said he hoped to enter the EIC or work as an instructor for it.

“Being a combat arms instructor, it’s nice during the competition because we can step out of our regular roles and help anybody base-wide who may not get an opportunity to come to the range like us and help them get a skill set they may not have,” he said.

Competitions like the EIC are valuable, Kanzari commented, for such skill development.

“Some people who don’t actively carry a firearm every day like we do get a chance to build on a skill and turn that into something they enjoy on the civilian or off-duty side,” he said. “It’s bragging rights, too. If you shoot well enough and get enough points, there is a badge you can wear on your Class A’s.”

Wright-Patterson AFB personnel must register in person at the CATM, Bldg. 296, with a military/DoD civilian ID card. Participants from other bases or locations may register via email at 88SFS.CATM@us.af.mil, with proof of identity and eligibility required at check-in.

Registration dates are:

Active-duty, March 6-10

Guard and Reservists, March 13-17

Open registration, March 20-24

Certificates will be awarded to competitors with the top 10 percent scores; they may wear the EIC badge, IAW AFI 36-2903.